Process Engineer

NPAworldwide; Johnson City (TN); On-site; USD 100,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The Process Engineer at NPAworldwide will develop, optimize, and support manufacturing processes in a lithium battery separator plant based in Johnson City, Tennessee. You will own assigned processes and drive improvements to safety, quality, yield, throughput, and cost using structured problem solving and data-driven methods.

You will work cross-functionally with Operations, Quality, Maintenance, R&D, EHS, and Supply Chain to troubleshoot challenges, establish robust process windows, support

Qualifications

• BS degree in Mechanical, Industrial or Manufacturing Engineering.
• 37 years of process engineering in lithium battery manufacturing, roll-to-roll/ coating or related fields.
• Hands-on experience with troubleshooting, process optimization, production trials, and continuous improvement.
• Knowledge of processes, engineering principles, and structured problem solving.
• Working knowledge of SPC, DOE, PFMEA, RCA, process capability, Lean/Six Sigma.
• Proficiency with MS Office and manufacturing data analysis.
• Ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced plant environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication across technical and operations teams.
• Travel between plants.

Responsibilities

• Own and support assigned manufacturing processes, including mixing, coating, slitting, material handling, and related separator production operations.
• Analyze process performance, optimize operating parameters, and reduce safety risks, defects, and costs.
• Troubleshoot production issues, lead root-cause investigations, and implement corrective actions.
• Establish, document, maintain process windows, setup standards, and procedures.
• Support production startup, process validation, equipment qualification readiness.
• Lead continuous improvement projects targeting scrap reduction, yield, cycle time, and equipment reliability.
• Apply RCA, SPC, PFMEA, DOE, and Six Sigma methodologies as appropriate.
• Identify modifications to process, equipment, controls, and handling to improve performance.
• Use data to identify recurring losses and prioritize opportunities.
• Collaborate with R&D, Quality, and Operations on new product introductions and scale-up.
• Plan and execute pilot and production trials with objectives, data collection, acceptance criteria, and conclusions.
• Evaluate new materials, technologies, equipment, and methods for production suitability.
• Translate learnings into documented standards and repeatable processes.
• Analyze manufacturing data and trends to support decisions.

Skills

Process optimization

Root Cause Analysis

DOE

SPC

PFMEA

Lean Six Sigma

Data analysis

Communication

Project management

Education

B.S. in Mechanical/Industrial/Manufacturing Engineering

Tools

MS Office

Historian tools

Job description

Job Description

The Process Engineer is responsible for developing, optimizing, and supporting manufacturing processes within a lithium battery separator manufacturing environment. The Process Engineer owns assigned manufacturing processes and uses engineering principles, process data, and structured problem-solving to improve safety, product quality, yield, throughput, cost, and process stability. The Process Engineer works cross-functionally with Operations, Quality, Maintenance, Research & Development, EHS, and Supply Chain to troubleshoot manufacturing challenges, establish robust process windows, implement improvements, support new product and process scale-up, and strengthen day-to-day manufacturing performance.

Responsibilities

• Own and support assigned manufacturing processes, including mixing, coating, slitting, material handling, and related separator production operations.
• Analyze process performance, optimize operating parameters, improve safety, quality, yield, throughput, reliability, and cost.
• Troubleshoot process-related production issues, lead structured root-cause investigations, and implement sustainable corrective actions.
• Establish, document, maintain process windows, setup standards, and engineering procedures.
• Support production startup, process validation, equipment qualification readiness activities
• Lead and support continuous improvement projects focused on scrap reduction, yield improvement, cycle-time reduction, process capability, and equipment reliability.
• Apply engineering and statistical methods including Root Cause Analysis, SPC, PFMEA, DOE, and Six Sigma methodologies as appropriate.
• Identify and recommend process, equipment, controls, and material-handling modifications that improve manufacturing performance.
• Use process capability and trend data to identify recurring losses and prioritize improvement opportunities.
• Partner with R&D, Quality, and Operations to support new product introductions, process development, and manufacturing scale-up.
• Plan and execute pilot and production trials, including definition of trial objectives, data collection requirements, acceptance criteria, and technical conclusions.
• Evaluate new materials, technologies, equipment, and methods for production suitability.
• Translate development learnings into documented standards and repeatable production processes.
• Analyze manufacturing data, process trends, defects, and equipment parameters to support technical and operational decision-making.

Qualifications

• BS degree Mechanical, Industrial or Manufacturing Engineering
• 37 years of process engineering experience in lithium battery manufacturing, roll-to-roll, web handling coating/converting, extrusion, plastics, chemical processing, or advanced manufacturing preferred.
• Hands-on experience with manufacturing troubleshooting, process optimization, production trials, and continuous improvement preferred.
• Knowledge of manufacturing processes, engineering principles, and structured problem solving.
• Working knowledge of SPC, DOE, PFMEA, Root Cause Analysis, process capability, and Lean/Six Sigma methodologies.
• Interpret data, equipment parameters, process trends, quality results to make sound decisions.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and manufacturing data analysis or historian tools.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Strong written, verbal communication skills ability to work across technical and operational teams.
• Attention to detail, technical ownership, and commitment to safety and operational excellence.
• Travel as needed between plants.

Why Is This a Great Opportunity

Become a team member for a mega plant startup.

Salary

Salary Type: Annual Salary

Salary Min: $ 100000

Salary Max: $ 120000

Currency Type: USD